Iowa State vs. No. 5 Oklahoma State Primer

Who: Iowa State (14-21, 3-9 Big 12) vs. No. 5 Oklahoma State (34-6, 12-3 Big 12)

Where: Cyclone Sports Complex – Ames, Iowa

When: April 12-14 – 4, 1 & 12 p.m.

Leading Off
The Cyclones return to the Cyclone Sports Complex this weekend to welcome the fifth-ranked Oklahoma State Cowgirls to Ames for a Big 12 series showdown. Both teams enter the weekend having won their midweek contest and each will look to pick up pivotal league wins.

The Cyclones have won just one league game in the last three weeks thanks to a series cancelation and a pair of tough opponents in Baylor and Kansas. ISU has won at least one game against a ranked Oklahoma State team in each of the past two seasons. The Cyclones are looking to gain ground in the Big 12 standings, with their sites on a top six finish.

Oklahoma State is coming off a home victory over Tulsa, a team that tripped it up on the road earlier this season and is one of just six losses for the Cowgirls. Four of OSU's losses have come to ranked opponents. Oklahoma State is looking to maintain its current second place standing in the league with just under a month to go in regular season play.

Saturday'scontest against Oklahoma State will be a mental health awareness game, with members of the Iowa State team supporting green ribbons to help bring light to the subject. Sunday's game against the Cowgirls will be the Bark at Park game, with attendees being encouraged to bring their dogs. Should you want to bring your dog, you can register it here.

Leading the Cyclones
The Cyclone offense both literally and statistically starts with a pair of lefties in Ochoa and Allen. Allen leads the Cyclones in most every offensive category outside of runs, triples and walks drawn. Ochoa, a fellow team captain, has complimented Allen nicely at the top of the order. From the leadoff spot, Milaysia is hitting .330 with 22 walks drawn and five HBP.

Alesia Ranches has had a solid season for the Cyclones too, as the fifth-year senior is batting .320 with 32 hits and 22 RBI. Olivia Wardlow, Ashley Minor, Tiana Poole and Carli Spelhaug all have over 20 hits and help power the Cyclone offense. Overall, ISU's offense slashes .276/.368/.457 and averages 4.7 runs per game.

All six players on the Cyclone pitching staff have seen the circle this season, with seniors Saya Swain and Karlie Charles leading the way. Charles holds a 4.06 ERA and has pitched a team-high 51.2 innings. Swain, who has the lowest ERA on the team with a 2.07, hasn't pitched since mid-February due to injury.

Lauren Schurman, Jaiden Ralston, Aziza Rodriguez and Tatum Johnson make up the remainder of the staff, with all being either a sophomore or freshman. Ralston has a team-best 40 strikeouts and opposing hitters bat just .290 against her. As a staff, ISU holds a 5.35 ERA with three complete games and opposing batters are hitting .315.

Opponent Outlook
Oklahoma State's offense fits the billing of a top-5 team, as the Cowgirls have five players hitting over .300 and that have at least 100 at-bats. Catcher Caroline Wang leads the way, as the senior has a team-high 47 hits and 15 homers for a total of 39 RBI. Wang's 15 homers lead the Big 12 and are the seventh-most in the country.

Karli Godwin is the lone Cowgirl to have started and played in all 40 games for OSU, as she hits .349 and has 31 Rbi – second to only Wang. Five Cowgirls have at least 24 runs scored, and the team has five batters with at least 35 hits. Overall, OSU's offense slashes .314/.389/.569 and averages 6.1 runs per game.

OSU's pitching is spearheaded by Lexi Kilfoyl who holds a 0.84 ERA across 23 appearances this season. Kilfoyl leads the Big 12 in ERA, shutouts (6), wins (15) and strikeouts-to-walk ratio (5.06). She's been a dominant arm for Oklahoma State after transferring in from Alabama the past two seasons.

Joining Kilfoyl in the circle are Ivy Rosenberry and Kyra Aycock. Rosenberry totes a 1.11 ERA in 23 appearances while Aycock holds a 3.03 ERA in 16 appearances. As a staff, Oklahoma State holds a 1.71 ERA with 14 complete games and 12 shutouts as opposing batters are hitting just .201.

Series History
Iowa State and Oklahoma State have met 106 times prior entering the weekend, in a matchup that dates all the way back to 1977. The Cowgirls lead the all-time series and have been ranked in their last 14 meetings with the Cyclones. The two teams met three times last year in Stillwater when OSU was ranked No. 3 in the country. After the Cyclones dropped the first two games, they claimed a 3-2 win in 11 innings to cap the series and tie the program record for highest-ranked team defeated.

On Deck
After this weekend's series against a top-5 Oklahoma State squad, Iowa State will round out a nine-game homestand with a Cy-Hawk showdown against the Iowa Hawkeyes next Tuesday, April 16. Next Tuesday's game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

As a reminder, admission to the Cyclones Sports Complex is free.

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Players Mentioned

Karlie Charles

Tatum Johnson

Ashley Minor

Tiana Poole

Jaiden Ralston

Alesia Ranches

Aziza Rodriguez

Lauren Schurman

Carli Spelhaug

Saya Swain

Olivia Wardlow

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